Chapter 15: Grandpa Zed's Past and His Parting Gifts

"Haa, as always, he has a foul mouth."

"Who are you calling foul? You stinkin brat." Not noticing, he leaked out the words in his mind and was scolded by an old man.

"Nothing sir!"

"Tch, Just get in."

"Yes sir".' He is the same as always. Is it because he is getting older? Why can't he be a little less grumpy?'

Knowing his attitude, Jayven had no intention of arguing with him, So he entered as requested. While still grumbling in his mind about Grandpa Zed's attitude.

"Ava, give us some tea and snacks." With a sudden command from Grandpa Zed, a robot came forth and did what he asked.

"Sit kid."

"Thank you, sir."

With his words, Jayven immediately complied. Sitting down, the tea was served, and they drank it for a bit until the old man exhaled and then talked.

"So how's life treating you this day, kid?" Hearing that, Jayven was hit with nostalgia.

"Eh, isn't this what he asked me the first time I bumped into him before?"

"Not answering? "

"Ah! Yes, it's good. I'm doing fine right now."

"Hmmm, although you seemed a bit distressed. I can also see that you are not on edge like you used to."

"Ehehe, really?" He smiled widely.

"That's not a compliment, brat. Although it is good to relax sometimes, it isn't okay to feel complacent all the time."

'Hearing that, I kind of understand. What happened yesterday was really me being too used to the current success I have.'

'I forgot that I might lose everything one day because of a silly mistake.'

"Anyway, since you seemed to be fine, I guess it's time to give you back your stuff."

He said this as he handed over a few items and devices. Seeing it, Jayven was confused, as these were not his.

"What? But weren't they originally yours? I gave them back, so I think I have no right to receive them."

"Shut Up! kid! It's my stuff; I can do whatever I want with it. And when I say I will give it to you, I'll give it to you!"

"Yes sir!" Imidiately, Jayven answered

'He is still so stubborn. But is he like this? I don't know if the old man told him, but maybe there is a reason.'

"Um, sir, can I ask the reason why you are giving those things to me?"

"I guess that Stupid child didn't tell you? It's a good thing he didn't."

"Ahaha." 'He is always like this; he treats the people here as children. I guess they were like children in his eyes.'

"I heard that you have been doing a lot of side jobs since leaving here."

"Uh, yeah, I was just preparing, so that I could get to know the in and outs of being a hunter."

"Huuuuu." Exhaling hard, Grandpa looked Jayven in the eyes.

"You remembered the time I took you in as an apprentice."

"Yeah, you said I had potential and hired me."

"Heh, that was a lie."

"Eh, really?"

"Yup, you don't know how surprised I am to see you being so talented. I guess my sister wasn't exaggerating when she said you are good with your hands."

"Sister?" Surprised by the sudden realization. Jayven didn't know what to make of it.

"Yes, my sister." Saying that, he pulled a paper out, and in it were the photos of me and everyone, and there in the middle was an old, elegant woman whom Jayven knew very well.

"Is she your sister?" Jayven asked as the person there was the director of the first orphanage he grew up in.

"Yeah, she is. And seeing you back then was a huge coincidence. I wanted to ask you so badly about what happened, but I held it in."

Taking another sip, he continued.

"I held it even more seeing as how you were mistreated at the new orphanage your at. All I can think about is doing simple things to help you."

He then started to tell him many things about how he would like to take care of him, but seeing as Jayven was still at a loss for what to do, he wasn't able to act much.

"Plus, I don't know how to take care of kids; I usually let my wife deal with it. Also,  it is embarrassing to adopt a kid at my age. What would my children and grandchildren say when they suddenly had a sibling or an uncle? But that's just me, sorry."

Hearing that Jayven was a little confused and, at the same time, happy to know about the real reason,

"Don't worry, sir; you're a great help to me. You might not understand it, but you gave me solace in this place. You provided me with more than I needed, so I should be thankful for what you've done. Thank you."

"Hmph, I'm glad, but don't get ahead of yourself just yet, kid. I know that the National exam is coming up next year. You will need this for your preparation."

The old man said as he passed him a bag and took out a big ring-type object.

"This is the VR Device you let me use before?" Recieving h also felt embarassed. "So, you might have also seen my past records."

"Of course. How could I not? I was giving it some upgrades and saw some data in it. Now it can stand toe-to-toe with the latest technology."

"I see. I guess you saw how pathetic I was."

"Don't berate yourself too much, kid; there are some ups and downs in life, and you have definitely encountered them. But that doesn't mean you are giving up, right?"

"Yes, thank you. I'll do my best this time around."

"Good. Although I won't be there to see you on stage, I will still be supporting you."

Hearing that, Jayven became confused. "What do you mean?"

"My kids made a house for me near theirs and threatened me with my grandchildren. So if I don't go, they will not let me see them. I already missed my wife. What torture would it be if I couldn't see those kids?"

"I see." That made Jayven awkward, but he also seems to understand a bit of his concerns.

"Can you also thank your son for me? You said one of them owns this, right? Jayven pointed at the nerve gear."

"Yeah, sure, I'll tell them. They are using the newest model now, so I don't think they will mind."

"Thank you, sir."

With that, the two continued talking, and when it was almost nighttime, Jayven stood up and asked Grandpa Zed.

"When are you leaving?"

"I'll do it tomorrow since I am mostly finished with everything."

"I see. I'm going to miss you, sir."

"Not me, though."

With that, they both laughed.

"See you, kid."

"You too, sir."

That marked the end of their meeting. Jayven left to buy the remaining things he needed.

~~~~~~~~~~

"To think he would successfully achieve a second awakening. He is one lucky brat, not to mention a natural one at that."

He sighed, looking at the picture in hand.

"Sis, you really did take good care of such a child; he even remembers most of what you usually nag me with. Ava, grab me some beer."

The Robot then opened a fridge and gave him a can of beer.

"Why one? Give me more." As he demanded more, the robot just stood there staring at him as if saying that one can was enough.

"Tch, why did I put this health function in this? I would be drowning in Alcohol by now if it weren't for this."

He sighed and chugged his beer down his throat. "But then again, If it weren't for this, I would have had health issues. And I wouldn't have met that kid."

"Haaa." Sighed as he reminisced of his past.

"I was lost when you left me, but I guess your insisting on giving such function to this tin can  really is a last reminder, huh?"

He said it lovingly on a portrait that was hanging up at the side of his store. There was a picture of him when he was young, and a woman was there.

"I guess meeting that kid is somewhat of a good distraction for myself."

After finishing up the beer, he stood up and went to his room.

"Ava, get our things ready; we are packing up to leave."

With a beep, she retracted her arms out of it and started cleaning the place as well as putting important things in a box.

"I will really miss this place. That kid too, and hopefully we will see each other again someday."

Having that wish in mind, he also started packing in his stuff. And once he was done, he contacted the movers. Preparing to leave for tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After finishing his errands with the potions and mana-infused food and meeting with Grandpa Zed, he got home and made his preparations.

First on the agenda is food. He prepared what he had and cooked it.

With this mana-induced food, his training will gradually improve him in the long run.

"Hopefully it will have some in my Status. And if it does, then with the use of my skill, I can try to change it into my trait."

Having already thought of a plan, he started to set things up. Later, he took out his VR device that he received from Grandpa Zed.